Dalit youth dies in police ‘raid’, tension in Surat

A 25-YEAR-OLD Dalit youth died under mysterious circumstances in Surat Sunday night after a “police raid”, leading to violent protests by locals in which a subinspector was injured.

Locals claimed that the victim was in an inebriated condition when Sub-inspector V S Patel slapped him after an argument and he fell on the road and died following an epileptic seizure. Police, however, said the Subinspector had raided a gambling den and on seeing a policeman, three youths escaped, but Mahendra Makwana fell on the ground and died.

Police said Makwana, a resident of Ambatalavdi area in Katargam, fell while running reportedly after he had a fit (epileptic seizure). The man was rushed to a hospital where he was declared brought dead, they said.

After “the raid”, locals gathered at the spot and attacked the sub-inspector with sticks. The policeman managed to escape.

Eyewitnessesrejectedthepolice version, saying the sub-inspector was there with a private person, and he found Makwana walking on the road and suspectedhimtobedrunk.following an argument with Makwana, the police officer slapped him and he fell on the road and suffered an epileptic attack, they said. Police have registered a complaint of accidental death.

Police Commissioner Ashish Bhatia said, “We have started a probe into the incident.”